Amphibious boat



L. H. ROY

AMPHIBIOUS BOAT Jan. 6, 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. '7, 1968 illilliill Fig.

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INVENTOR.

Jan. 6, 1970 L. H. ROY 8 AMPHIBIOUS BOAT Filed Feb. 7, 1968 4 Sfieetshedt 2 Lynn H. Roy L' IN VENTOR.

Jam 6, 1970 u... H. ROY 3,,48TL802 v AMPHIBIOUS BOAT mm Fab. '2, 1.968 4 Sheets-Sheet a WWW M2 my INV.-;NTOR.

United States Patent US. Cl. 115-1 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bull construction including first and second propulsion means for propelling the hull construction over land and water, respectively, the second propulsion means including vertically retractible marine propeller means retractible from a position disposed below the bottom of the hull construction to an upper position disposed above a plane in which the bottom of the hull construction is disposed and the first propulsion means including fluid pressure powered opposite side crawler tread support assemblies shiftable vertically between upper positions spaced above the bottom of the hull construction and lower positions with the crawler tread assemblies projecting below the bottom of the hull construction.

The amphibious boat of the instant invention may be constructed in the form of a single hull boat or a multihull boat such as a catamaran or a trimaran. Further, in order to simplify the mounting of the opposite side crawler tread assemblies of the amphibious boat, it is preferable that the boat be provided with inboard/outboard drive propulsion means of the type including a retractible outboard drive assembly which may be pivoted to a retracted position spaced above the bottom of the hull construction and that the hull construction be generally flat-bottomed in design and include substantially vertical and longitudinally straight remote sidewall portions from which the crawler tread assemblies may be supported although other types of marine propulsion means and hull constructions may be incorporated into the amphibious boat of the instant invention.

The main object of this invention is to provide a useful and novel means for transportation on land as well as water.

It is another object of this invention to provide an assembly which may be utilized to convert a conventional boat into an amphibious vehicle by the use of retractible lightweight crawler tread assemblies.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an amphibious boat in accordance with the preceding objects and including hydraulic motors for the crawler tread assemblies which may be driven by hydraulic fluid pumped through flexible lines communicating the hydraulic motors of the crawler tread assemblies carried thereby and hydraulic pumps stationarly positioned within the hull construction.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide the crawler tread assemblies with hollow buoyant drums about which the endless track members of the crawler tread assemblies are entrained whereby the buoyancy of the boat may be increased when the crawler tread assemblies are shifted to their lowermost positions.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide endless track members specifically designed to be entrained about and powered from hollow buoyant cylinders.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide an amphibious boat which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

3,487,802 Patented .Jlan. 6, 1970 These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and opreation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the amphibious boat;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View of the amphibious boat with the marine propulsion means thereof in a lowered position and the crawler tread assemblies thereof in upper positions;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the assemblage of FIGURE 2 as seen from the left side thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE 2 but with the crawler tread assemblies lowered and the marine propulsion means upwardly retracted;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the assemblage illustrated in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view of the assemblage illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5 as seen from the left side thereof;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 7-7 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 8-8 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane inedicatd by the section line 9--9 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line lllL-lll of FIGURE 2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the amphibious boat which includes generally vertical and longitudinally straight and parallel sides 12 interconnected at their lower ends by means of a substantially flat and horizontal bottom 14 and at their rear ends by means of the transom 16. The forward ends of the sides 12 and the bottom 14 merge smoothly into a forwardly tapering bow construction referred to in general by the reference numeral 18.

The boat 10 includes an inboard internal combustion engine referred to in general by the reference numeral 20 driving a substantially conventional and pivotally mounted outboard or stern drive marine propeller propulsion assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 22 through a marine clutch 24 and a drive line assembly 26. In addition, the inboard motor or internal combustion engine 20 includes a forwardly projecting power takeoff shaft portion 28 having a double pulley 30 mounted thereon. A pair of hydraulic pumps 32 are suitably mounted within the boat 10 and include power input shaft portions 34 including pulleys 36 driven from the pulley 30 by means of endless flexible belts 38.

The boat 10 includes a pair of opposite side crawler tread assemblies referred to in general by the reference numeral 40 and each assembly 40 includes a pair of support arms 42 including inboard ends provided with an upstanding internally threaded sleeve 44 and outboard ends including epending inner and outer arm members 46 and 48 defining a downwardly opening recess 50 therebetween. The lower ends of the inner arm members 46 of each assembly 40 are interconnected by means of a longitudinally extending and horizontally disposed side member and the lower ends of the outer arm members 48 of each assembly 40 are interconnected by means of an outer side member 54. Each assembly 40 includes a pair of opposite end drums 56 and 58 as Well as a pair of center drums 60 and 62 journaled between the side members 52 and 54. The drums 56 and 58 include two sets of circumferentially spaced and radially outwardly projecting blades 64 and an endless flexible belt-type track member 66 is entrained about each set of drums 56, 58, 60 and 62. Each track member 66 includes a plurality of elongated and transversely extending channel-shaped outwardly opening lugs 68 secured to its outer surface and the lugs 68 include longitudinally spaced openings 70 which are registered with corresponding openings 72 formed in the track member 66, the blades 64 being receivable through the registered openings 70 and 72 whereby the track member 66 is keyed to the drums 56 and 58 for rotation therewith.

Each of the drums 56, 58, 60 and 62 is hollow and therefore buoyant and it may be seen from FIGURE of the drawings that the upper portions of the track members 66 are supported in the recesses 50 defined by the support arms 42. The sides 12 each includes a pair of substantially vertical slots 74 and a pair of upstanding tubular members 76 secured to the inner surfaces of the sides 12 in registry with the slots 74 so as to close the inner ends of the slots 74 from the interior of the boat 10 disposed outwardly of the tubular members 76. Each tubular member has a lower journal block 78 secured therein and an upper partition 80. A screw shaft 82 is disposed in each tubular member 76 and is journaled at its lower end in the corresponding journal block 78 and at its upper end through the corresponding partition 80. Each screw shaft 82 has a worm wheel 84 mounted on its upper end for rotation therewith and a connecting shaft 86 extends between and is journaled through the upper ends of the tubular member 76 at each side of the boat 10. The opposite end of each connecting shaft 86 has a worm gear 88 mounted thereon and each worm gear 88 is meshed with the corresponding worm wheel 84.

Each connecting shaft 86 has a bevel gear 90 mounted thereon with which a bevel gear 92 mounted on the output shaft of a fluid motor 94 supported from the corresponding side 12 is meshed. The hydraulic motors 94 are reversible and each worm Wheel 84 and the corresponding worm gear 88 are disposed in a gear casing 96 supported from the corresponding partition 80. Further, from FIGURES 9 and 10 of the drawings it may be seen that each support arm 42 extends through the corresponding slot 74 with the internally threaded sleeve 44 thereof disposed within the associated tubular member and threadedly receiving the corresponding screw shaft 82 therethrough. Thus, upon operation of the hydraulic motors 94, the crawler tread assemblies 40 may be shifted between the raised solid line position illustrated in FIG- URE 10 and the lowered phantom line position illustrated in FIGURE 10.

Each of the drums 58 is mounted on a shaft portion 100 journaled between the corresponding side members 52 and 54 and the outboard end of each shaft portion 100 has a sprocket wheel 102 mounted thereon Which is aligned with a sprocket wheel 104 mounted on the output shaft 106 of a reversible hydraulic motor 108 mounted on the corresponding support arm 42. An endless chain 110 is entrained about each pair of sprocket wheels 102 and 104 and therefore the reversible hydraulic motors 108 are drivingly coupled to the track members 66.

Each of the hydraulic pumps 34 includes a pair of inlet and outlet hydraulic lines 114 and 116 extending between the hydraulic pump 32 and the corresponding hydraulic motor 108 and a pair of branch lines 118 and 120 extending between the lines 114 and 116 and the corresponding hydraulic motor 94. Control valve assemblies 122 are disposed within the lines 114 and 116 and control valve assemblies 124 are disposed within the branch lines 118 and 120. The control valve assemblies 122 and 124 may be remotely actuated in any suitable manner and are of any conventional design in order to selectively communicate the motors 108 and 94 with the hydraulic pumps 32 for effecting operation of the motors in either direction.

Although the marine clutch 24 has been provided, it is not absolutely necessary inasmuch as the outboard or stern drive assembly 22 may be provided with suitable transmission means for effecting reverse operation of its propeller 124. However, it is deemed desirable to provide the marine clutch 24 in order that the drive assembly 22 may be completely disconnected from the engine 20 when the crawler tread assemblies 40 are being utilized to propel the boat 10 over land.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An amphibious boat including a hull, first propulsion means carried by said hull adapted to propel said hull when the latter is disposed on a body of water, and second propulsion means adapted to propel said hull over land, said second propulsion means comprising powered opposite side ground engageable and hull supporting drive assemblies supported from opposite side of said hull for vertical shifting between upper positions with their lower portions spaced above the bottom of said hull and lower positions with their lower portions projecting below the bottom of said hull for engagement with the ground and support of said hull in elevated position above the ground engaged by said lower portions, said drive assemblies comprising horizontally elongated endless crawler treaded assemblies extending longitudinally of said hull and said assemblies include endless tracks including lower reaches thereof defining said lower portions of said drive assemblies, said crawler treaded assemblies each including opposite end wheel .means journaled between corresponding ends of opposite side brace members extending between said opposite end wheel means, and opposite end downwardly opening inverted U-shaped support arm structures embracingly disposed about the opposite ends of each of said crawler treaded assemblies from above and from which the corresponding set of ends of the associated opposite side brace members are supported, said support arm structures being supported from the adjacent side of said hull, each side of said hull including a pair of upstanding journaled screw shafts with which follower portions of the support arm structures on the corresponding side of the hull are threadedly engaged.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said drive assemblies are each powered by fluid motors carried thereby for vertical adjustment therewith, said hull including powered fluid pump means therein, and means operatively communicating said fluid pump means 'with said fluid motors including flexible conduit means extending between said hull and said fluid motors.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said screw shafts are journaled in and upstanding outwardly opening recesses formed in the corresponding sides of said hull and said recesses are sealed from the interior of said hull.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said drive assemblies are each powered by fluid motors carried thereby for vertical adjustment therewith, said hull including powered fluid pump means therein, and means operatively communicating said fluid pump .means with said fluid motors including flexible conduit means extending between said hull and said fluid motors, said hull including an inboard engine drivingly coupled to said first propulsion means, said fluid pump means also being powered by said inboard engine.

5. In combination, a vehicle including a body provided with opposite sides and a bottom, powered opposite side ground engageable and body supporting drive assemblies supported from opposite sides of said body for vertical shifting between upper positions with their lower portions spaced above the bottom of said body and lower positions with their lower portions projecting below the bottom of said body for engagement with the ground and support of said body in elevated position above the ground engaged by said lower portions, said drive assemblies comprising horizontally elongated endless crawler treaded assemblies extending longitudinally of said body and said assemblies include endless tracks including lower reaches thereof defining said lower portions of said drive assemblies, said crawler treaded assemblies each including opposite end wheel means journaled between corresponding ends of opposite side brace members extending between said opposite end wheel means, and opposite end downwardly opening inverted U-shaped support arm structures embracingly disposed about the opposite ends of each of said crawler treaded assemblies from above and from which the corresponding set of ends of the associated opposite side brace members are supported, said support arm structures being supported from the adjacent side of said body.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein each side of said body includes a pair of upstanding journaled screw shafts with which follower portions of the support arm structures on the corresponding side of the body are threadedly engaged.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said screw shafts are journaled in and upstanding outwardly opening recesses formed in the corresponding sides of said body and said recesses are sealed from the interior of said body.

8. In combination, a vehicle including a body provided with opposite sides and a bottom, powered opposite side ground engageable and body supporting drive assemblies supported from opposite sides of said body for vertical shifting between upper positions with their lower portions spaced above the bottom of said body and lower positions with their lower portions projecting below the bottom of said body for engagement with the ground and support of said body in elevated position above the ground engaged by said lower portions, a pair of longitudinally spaced support arm structures supported from each side of said body from which the corresponding drive assembly is supported, said support arm structures each including a follower portion, each side of said body including a pair of upstanding journaled screw shafts with which the follower portions of the support arm structures on the corresponding side of the body are threadedly engaged.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,853,812 9/1958 Van Riet et al. 115-1 3,188,996 6/1965 Thompson 115-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 608,680 9/1948 Great Britain.

ANDREW H. FARRELL, Primary Examiner 

